Benjamin Kilbourn^{[1, 2, 3]}

1730 - 1817  (87 years)

• Name	Benjamin Kilbourn
  Birth	1730	Morristown, Essex, New Jersey, British America   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Death	1817	Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States   [2, 3]
  	Kilbourn says about 1820.
  Person ID	I21381	Duane's Ancestors
  Last Modified	13 Jan 2020

  
  

  Father	Ebenezer Kilbourn,   b. 11 Mar 1678/9, Glastonbury, Hartford, Connecticut, British America d. 1732, Hanover, Essex, New Jersey, British America (Age 52 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Davis,   b. Abt 1694
  Marriage	11 May 1715	Glastonbury, Hartford, Connecticut, British America   [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  	Kilbourn has 4 May 1715.
  Family ID	F7339	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 1730 - Morristown, Essex, New Jersey, British America Death - 1817 - Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Notes

  From the Hartford Times, April 1851. "The French having been dispossessed of Nova Scotia in 1760, a bounty was offered to such English and Americans as would settle therein. At this time Benjamin Kilbourn was about 30 years of age, and was settled in Bolton, with a wife and two children. In company with others he removed to that country, hoping as he said, to find a location where in future years his children might settle around him. The climate proving cold and the soil unproductive, and having had his crops for three successive years almost wholly destroyed by the frost, he returned to Bolton in 1764, where he remained a few years. In 1773, he became a member of the Wyoming Land Company, and during that year was sent out to make selections and surveys in that then wilderness. His perils and hardships during this tour were of the most thrilling description, and were often in after years, recounted to his children and others. The only inhabitants of much of the country which he explored were wild beasts and much wilder men, and some portions of it were probably never before visited by a civilized being. During the following season he returned to Connecticut, and in October, 1774, started with his own and other families for the new purchase. His family at this time consisted of a wife and ten children, viz.: Elizabeth, Lucretia, Lucy, Benjamin, John, Gustavus, Cleopatra, Hannah, Jonathan and Moses, varying in their ages from twenty to two years. They passed from New London to New York in a sloop, thence taking the overland route to the Susquehannah, they reached the Kingston settlement safely. The location which Mr. Kilbourn had selected for himself and company was thirty miles beyond this place; but the inhabitants upon the river being filled with alarm on account of the several Indian depredations, it was deemed advisable that the company should remain at Kingston and Wilkesbarre, till it was thought more safe to venture further into the wilderness. The Indian disturbances not subsiding, Mr. K. and some of his old neighbors finally settled on the Shawney Flats, and were there at the commencement of hostilities between Great Britain and the United Colonies. They found the soil abundantly fertile; but new afflictions broke in upon their household band. During the first year of the settlement, Jonathan, a favorite child, was drowned in the Susquehannah, and Lucretia died of a fever peculiar in that country. The settlements on the river continued to increase rapidly in numbers and importance, and the people organized themselves into civil and military compacts for purposes of self-government and self-protection. Mr. Kilbourn was appointed a magistrate and Town Clerk, and faithfully performed various other public trusts, besides teaching the winter school and reading sermons to the assembled colonists on the Sabbath. He was a man of piety, intelligence and enterprise, and ever exerted a salutary influence on the minds and habits of the settlers. During the spring and early part of the summer of 1778, the inhabitants of the Valley were kept in a constant state of alarm by the murders and robberies committed by the savages. The English Government, which had been at war with the colonies, had brutally offered a bounty to the Indians for the scalp of every white man, woman and child which they would bring into the British camp. Wyoming was an exposed frontier, bordering on the Six Nations of Indians, numerous, fierce and accustomed to war. The warriors of these tribes were joined by a band of tories, who were even more blood-thirsty and cruel than their savage allies. The six townships of that beautiful Valley contained by this time about one thousand white families, and had furnished one thousand soldiers for the continental army, who were then absent on duty. Knowing their defenceless condition, the family of Mr. K. and those of his neighbors, were accustomed to repair to the Shawney Fort, or Block House, every night over which a strict guard was kept. About the middle of June, word reached them from Forty Fort, at Kingston, that an immediate attack was apprehended, and warning the people to retire to their fort for protection, or seek safety in flight. The settlers at Shawney being at a considerable distance from the other towns, and consequently more defenceless, chose the latter alternative. Mr. K. and his family packed up such articles of food and clothing as they could conveniently carry, placed them in a boat, into which were also placed the four youngest children, and in charge of a trusty neighbor, they proceeded down the river; the parents and the three other children together with many others following in the same direction by land. Lucy Kilbourn, then the wife of Daniel Lawrence, was at Forty Fort in feeble health. She also escaped, and in a few days joined the other members of her father's family. Having succeeded in finding a place of safety for the members of the family, Mr. Kilbourn and his son John, then fifteen years of age, went back to their forsaken dwelling, but found it robbed of everything except a bible and hymn book which they took possession of. They then repaired to the fort, hoping to assist in its defence, but found it deserted! In short the settlement of Shawney was abandoned - the terrible Massacre of Wyoming had taken place in their absence, deluging that delightful region with blood, and furnishing to the historians of our country the darkest page in her annals. They subsequently learned that very many of their relations and friends were victims of the horrible slaughter, and among them was David Lawrence, above named the son-in-law of Mr. K. Mr. Kilbourn and his son soon joined the family, and in company, they all started for Connecticut, on foot, often hungry and shelterless, yet finding many sympathizing friends on the way. Near a place called Harrison's Ferry, the youngest child was taken seriously ill, their only shelter being an apple tree. Some people in the vicinity at length learned their situation, kindly provided them with articles necessary to their comfort, and carried them several miles on their route. In due time they reached Connecticut in safety. In all their trials and journeyings, Mr. K. carried the Town Kecords with him, and after the restoration of peace a special messenger was sent to Connecticut after them. He lived to the good old age of 87, and died in 1817 at Belchertown, Mass., at the residence of his son Moses."

  
  

• Sources

  1.  [S538] Genealogy of the Kilbourn Family, 31, 00233.  2.  [S838] Hale, House & Related Families, 665, 00834.  3.  [S538] Genealogy of the Kilbourn Family, 44, 00233.  4.  [S822] Vital Records of CT Vol 13 (Barbour), 193, 00818.  5.  [S822] Vital Records of CT Vol 13 (Barbour), 191, 00818.  6.  [S838] Hale, House & Related Families, 664, 00834.  7.  [S1108] TEG, 4:211, 00961.